Traffic signal



1,624,900 Apnl 12, 1927. K c PARKHURST TRAFFIC SEIGNAL Filed Auz. 10. 1926 INVENTOR. Karl C. ParKhzlrJt A TT ORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

KARL C. PARKHURST, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

. TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed August 10, 1926. Serial No. 128,424.

My invention relates to traflic signals, and has for its chief object a signal that will collapse resting on the horizontal plane of the road bed.

F A further object of my invention is to provide a signal that does not tend to over-- A still further ob ect of my invention is to provide a trafic signal that will reposition automatically when forced downward by a vehicle. I

These and other objects will hereinafter 2 be more fully explained.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible type of my invention.

ig. 2 ,is a transverse sectional. view through the signal plate.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view longitudinally taken on line 33 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The signal herein disclosed consists of a mechanism that, will collapse to the road level when in contact with the wheels of the vehicle, and when released will automatically rise to a visible position.

To accomplish such I have provided a bed 1 with a depression to form channels on each side thereof as shown at 2 in Figs. 2 and 3. The said plate having a curvature at both ends thereof as at A as means for the exclusion of sediment that will naturally collect "therein as hereinafter described.

In Fig. 1 is shown a pair of plates 3 which a are hingedly connecte as at 4' and being tensioned b springs 5 so that the said plates are incline to fol together. On the visible sides of the plates are placed such indicia words as maybe required to control the traffic on highways. As to the style of the letters they may be constructed at the discretion of the manufacturer so long as they are prominent in their appearance. Preferably they are to be made as a type of raised sion for sediment to pass letter having the face thereof polished, or may be colored. The plates are preferably made of metal to endure sudden contact.

The lower edges of the plate are adapted to slide longitudinally in the bed with the dowels 6 engaging in the channels as means for proper alignment and to control the position thereof for service. As a convenient means for entering the plates in the channels of the bed I have provided a notch 7 on each side thereof through which the dowels will pass. When properly entered I have placed screws 8 threadedly engaging and extending across the channels functioning as a stop for the dowels by which means the said plates are positioned at a desired angle, and at all times concentrically positioned longitudinally 1n the bed.

Should the wheel contact the indiciaplate the opposite side will slide freely in the direction of the arrow B allowing the plates to collapse to a flush position with the plane of the bed channel as at C forcing any col- I lection of sediment from the end of the bed which can pass freely over the curvature thereof. Immediately after the wheel has passed over the said plates they will automatically erect themselves as shown in Fig. 1 being tensioned by the springs 5 as heretoa fore stated.

Such modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a traflic signal, a bed imbedded in the surface of the road,'a depression in the bed having channels on each side thereof, a pair of pivotally connected indicia plates having dowels on the outer corners thereof to enage in said channels, springs engaging at the pivot point of the plates to cause said plates to move towards each other, stops engaging across said channels against which said dowels will engage for an angled position of each of the plates.

2. In a trafiic signal, a rectangular shaped bed having a depression in the plane thereof, curvatures at the opposite ends of the depres- 1 freely from the ends of said depression, a pair of hingedly connected plates, -indicia wording on the channels to enter said dowels to engagement plane of the plates, springs tensioning the in the channels,'stops in the channels for said plates at the hinged connection, dowelson dowels to contact for an erect position of 19 the opposite edges of the platesto engage in the plates as tensioned by said springs, all

5 the channels of the bed s6 that said plates substantially as, and for the purpose dewill press downward flush with the plane of scribed.- the bed, a notch in the upper side of both KARL C. PARKHURST. 

